Romano Floriani Mussolini, great-grandson of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, said on Wednesday that he wants his talent as a soccer player to speak louder than his last name. The athlete prepares to debut in the elite of Italian football by the newly promoted Cremonese.
The 22-year-old right-back, loaned by Lazio, arrived at Cremonese earlier this month after the club won access to the first division through Serie B playoffs.
“I’m here to play soccer. My last name? It bothered others more than me. It’s a heavy name for others, but not to me,” said the player.
“The less you talk about this, the better. I’m here to express myself on the pitch, nothing more. I want to get experience in Serie A, face more run -up players and play as much as possible to show my skills,” he added.
Floriani Mussolini is the son of Mauro Floriani and Italian politics Alessandra Mussolini, former deputy in the European Parliament for the Forza Italia Party and granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, who was Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943 after a fascist blow.
Also able to play as a tip, Floriani Mussolini played 37 matches last season by Juve Stabia, which was eliminated precisely by the cremonesis in the playoff semifinal. He joined Lazio’s base at age 13, coming from rival Rome.
“The match against Lazio will be special, is the team with which I grew up and I hope,” he said. “But now I’m focused on giving me all of myself for Cremonese, and I want to win this game.”
Cremonese debuts in the Italian Championship away from home against Milan on August 23.
